Shelf trim assembly

ABSTRACT

Clip means for holding a trim plate on a metal shelf structure with a frame and spaced transverse bars thereon. One type of clip means engages the trim plate and at least one of the transverse bars. The other type of clip means which is made of a resilient strip of steel engages the trim plate and the frame.

United States Patent Ball [4 1 Jan. 25, 1972 '7 [54] SHELF TRIM ASSEMBLY [72] Inventor: Charles A. Ball, Suite 510, 80 The East Mall, lslington, Ontario, Canada [22] Filed: Mar. 26, 1970 [21] Appl. No.2 22,824

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 632,355, Apr. 20, 1967, Pat. No.

[52] U.S.Cl ..211/153 [51] Int. Cl. ..A47f 5/00 [58] FieldofSearch ..211/153,106;108/161 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 894,711 7/1908 Worcester ..52/669 2,197,982 4/1940 OBrien ..211/153 2,568,148 9/1951 Goldsmith. ..211/153 2,599,607 6/1952 Burrise ..211/153 3,329,281 7/1967 Ball ..211/153 Primary Examiner-Nile C. Byers, Jr Art0rneyFrank 1. Piper. Arne l. Fors and James T. Wilbur [57] ABSTRACT Clip means for holding a trim plate on a metal shelf structure with a frame and spaced transverse bars thereon. One type of clip means engages the trim plate and at least one of the transverse bars. The other type of clip means which is made of a resilient strip ofsteel engages the trim plate and the frame.

2 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEU ms [972 SHEET NF 2 R 0L TIL N A W N A 6 I. r 3 S/ w, T E31 5 u .R/ m F C Y B x 42 w a 8 7 M 4 m E! M w 2 PATENIEDmzsmz mamas SHEET 2 BF 2 N-Vli/V OR CHARLES Av BALL SHELF TRIM ASSEMBLY This application is a division of application Ser. No. 632,355 filed Apr. 20, 1967, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,554,383, issued Jan. l2, l97l.

This invention relates to shelf structures for use in refrigerators, freezers, storage closets and cabinets, and more particularly to a fabricated shelf assembly formed from a wire rack and having a protective and decorative trim plate attached thereto.

Shelves for household refrigerators and other household appliances are formed in many different ways. Usually the shelf is of a standard welded steel type of construction having a front, center and rear crossbar of heavy gauge wire with transverse bars or rods of wires of somewhat lighter gauge arranged in spaced relationship thereon. Another type of shelf construction has the crossbars secured between a pair of opposed side members forming a rectangular frame. The transverse bars extend from the front crossbar to the rear crossbar and are welded thereon. In fabrication of these types of shelves, the ends of the transverse bars often project beyond the front and rear crossbars, so that when in use, the user is confronted with a rough edge.

By my invention, I provide a trim plate which is separately fabricated in substantially any desired shape and that can be simply and quickly snapped or telescoped to the front crossbar of the shelf to cover and shield the ends of the transverse bars. The trim plate is held on the frame by means of one of the novel clip means described herein which makes it convenient to remove the front trim plate from the frame.

It is known to use a spring wire clip to hold the trim plate on the frame which hasarms engaging the transverse bars at the side and the undersidethereof. Also, the arms extend beneath several bars to a center portion which engages the top of the front crossbar. Moreover, to remove the trim plate it is necessary to remove the shelf from the refrigerator and turn it upside down so as to gain access to the wire clip and manipulate the wire ends of the clip. Clip means of this type are, moreover, unsatisfactory for use in the home because the user cannot remove the trim plate easily until the shelf is first removed from the refrigerator.

I have found that these disadvantages may be overcome by providing a clip means which is springably held between the trim plate and the frame without engaging the bars or between the trim plate and the transverse bars without engaging the frame. Such clip means permit the trim plate to be removed quickly as they can be manipulated easily by the hand of the user.

A primary object of my invention is to provide a fabricated metallic shelf structure of such character that it lends itself to inexpensive fabrication with a noticeably increased rate of production.

Another object of my invention is to provide a fabricated metallic shelf structure in which the trim plate may be separately fabricated in any finish or design appearance and simply and quickly secured to the front crossbar of the shelf structure by one of the novel clip means described herein.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a fabricated metallic shelf structure in which the trim plate can be easily removed by hand for easy cleaning.

Briefly, these and other objects of the present invention are accomplished by providing several novel embodiments of a clip means in combination with a metallic shelf structure and a trim plate to hold the trim plate in place on the shelf. Several embodiments of the clip means engage the trim plate and transverse bars, and other embodiments engage the trim plate and frame without engaging the transverse bars.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shelf made from a wire frame with a trim plate attached to the transverse bars by any one of the novel clip means described herein;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a shelf with front, center and rear crossbars having transverse bars attached thereto with a trim assembly attached to the front crossbar by any one of the novel clip means;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bottom part of either one of the shelves shown in FIGS. 1 or 2 showing a portion of the trim plate with a first specific embodiment of a clip means;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along the line 4l4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the clip means shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view, similar to FIG. 4, showing a second embodiment of a clip means attaching the trim plate to the frame;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the clip means, of FIG. 6, in its securing position on the trim assembly;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view, similar to FIG. 4, showing a third embodiment of a clip means for use in the trim assembly;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the clip means in FIG. 8 in its securing position with respect to the trim assembly;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 4, showing a fourth embodiment of a clip means for use with the trim assembly; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the fourth embodiment of the clip means of FIG. 10 shown in its securing position with the trim assembly.

With reference to the drawings, a final trim assembly is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 as being incorporated with a wire shelf 11 of a type used in household refrigerators. These shelves are usually constructed with a rectangular wire frame made from a heavy gauge round steel wire with its free ends joined by say a butt weld. The frame comprises opposite side members 13 and 14, and a front 15, center 16, and rear 17 crossbars having their ends secured to said side members 13 and 14. Other shelves, as shown in FIG. 2, are without the side members 13 and 14. Transverse bars 18 are made of lighter gauge wire than the frame and are arranged in a spaced relationship on the frame extending from the front crossbar 14 to the rear crossbar 15 of the frame 11. The transverse bars 18 are welded or otherwise fixed to the frame at the points of contact. Shelves are customarily placed in the refrigerator so that the transverse bars 18 extend towards the door of the refrigerator. This exposes the ends 19 of the bars 18 to accidental touching or contact by the hands of the user.

A trim plate 20 is preferably secured on the front crossbar 15 to cover the exposed ends 19 of the transverse bars 18 but may also be applied to the rear crossbar 17. The trim plate 20 is held in place by any one of the clip means described herein, each of which is easy to install. The trim plate is a strip preferably made of extruded aluminum, rolled aluminum strip, or sheet metal but which also could be formed of a hard plastic material. The strip preferably extends the length of the front crossbar. The trim plate is separately fabricated and in substantially any type of finish such as being anodized clear or colored, painted or plated to suit the requirement. The trim plate 20, as shown in FIG. 4, is formed having a front wall with a longitudinally extending recess 22 and a lower portion 23 depending from the recessed portion 21 with a hooked edge 24 which engages the front crossbar 15, a top wall 25 extends over the ends 19 of the adjacent transverse bars 18 and having downwardly extending projections 26 and 27 forming a channel 28 at the distal end portion thereof.

In another embodiment, the trim plate 20, as shown in FIG. 6, has the distal end of the top wall 25 folded under to form a hooked edge 26 leaving a slot 29 therebetween. The slot 29 is wide enough to receive part of a clip means which will be inserted therein.

According to may invention, clip means 30, 40, 50 or 60 are to be used to secure the trim plate 20 to the front crossbar 15 preferably for a final assembly, as shown in FIG. 4, 6, 8 and 10, respectively. One clip means may be used to hold the strip 20 in place but normally a plurality of each are used with at least one near each side member 13 and 14 respectively. Each clip means is easily placed in a securing position when the trim plate 20 is placed on either the front crossbar or the front and rear crossbar. The assembly of the clip means in the trim assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2 is apparent from the FIG. 3, 4, 6, 8 and 10.

A first clip means 30, shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, is made preferably of a resilient plastic material and comprises a flat rectangular top portion 31 which is slidably in the channel 28 of the trim plate 20. The top portion 31 is associated with the arms 26 and 27 to secure the clip means 30 in engagement with the trim plate 20. A downwardly extending intermediate portion 32 is integrally connected to the top portion 31 and has a bottom surface 35 with at least one transverse opening 36 therethrough. With just one opening the intermediate portion would have to be of a length not extending the distance between three adjacent transverse bars 18. If desired, other openings 36 can be made in the bottom surface 35 spaced apart to engage adjacent transverse bars 18. The opening 36 is connected to a slot 37 with a circular cross section, each sufficiently wide to receive one bar 18 and to releasably secure the bar 18 therein. Thus the trim plate 20 with its hooked edge 24 engaging the front crossbar 15 can be attached to the transverse bars 18 at its upper portion. The trim plate can be easily disengaged as the user merely has to draw the first clip means 30 from the bars 18 and the trim plate 20 will easily be removed. The slots 37 should be formed to permit the bottom edge of the arms 26 and 27 to rest on the transverse bars 18.

The width of the intermediate portion 32 is a matter of choice. If the manufacturer wishes to have its width the same as the distance between the inwardly projecting portions of the arms 26 and 27, then the top portion 31 will be engaged in the channel. If it is to be of the same width as the top portion 31, then longitudinal slots 33 and 34 adjacent the top portion 31 will have to be cut in its side faces to receive the inwardly projecting portions of the arms 26 and 27. If a trim plate 20 with a folded edge 26, as shown in FIG. 6, is used, another embodiment of the first clip means 30 could be used. The top portion 31 would have a width which extends from the edge 26 to the inner surface of the recess portion 22. Here, the intermediate portion 32 could have various widths possibly even having a diverging end surface engaging the top surface of the front crossbar 15, if desired.

With the possibility of the trim plate 20 being made of a resilient plastic material, it also would be possible to mold the trim plate 20 and the first clip means 30 together to give a novel trim plate which would have its own attaching means to secure it to the frame.

A second clip means 40, shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, is made of resilient material such as a strip of steel and comprises a rectangular-shaped piece with an intermediate portion 47 having diametrically opposite tabs 41 and 44 formed at opposite ends thereof. The intermediate portion has top and bottom surfaces 47a and b respectively. As shown, the angle between the planes containing tab 41 and the bottom of surface 47b extending from the tab is acute. Similarly, the angle 11 between the planes containing tab 44 and the bottom surface 47b extending from the tab is acute. The comers 42 and 43 also 45 and 46 are transversely chamfered leaving openings in the side edges adjacent the ends to provide clearance so that the tabs 41 and 44 formed therebetween will fit between two adjacent transverse bars 18. The tabs 41 and 44 each have a hooked portion, the tab 41 to be engaged in the slot 29 of either embodiment of the trim plate 20 shown and the tab 44 with the front crossbar either between the hooked portion 24 of the trim plate and the front crossbar 15 or on the top of the front crossbar 15 between the same two adjacent bars 18 as the tab 41, as shown in FIG. 7. The intermediate portion 47 is concavely shaped and extends beneath the bars 18. When the second clip means 40 is in the securing position, the intermediate portion 47 holds the tab 41 and 44 springably in engagement with the trim plate 20 and the front crossbar 15 without engaging the transverse bars 18.

To disassemble the trim assembly having the second clip means 40 therein, the user merely places one finger against the inner surface of the intermediate portion 47 and bends the tabs toward each other until one of the tabs 41 or 44 becomes disengaged and free, then the user just withdraws the tab from the other engagement means.

A third clip means 50, shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, is made from resilient material such as a strip of steel and comprises a rectangular-shaped piece with an intermediate portion 51 having diametrically opposite tabs formed at opposite ends thereof. Center slots 54 and 57 are cut in each tab which slots are of sufficient width to contain a transverse bar 18 therebetween. The slots must be of sufficient length also to provide arms 52, 53, 55 and 56 with hooked portions at their free ends to engage the trim plate 20 and front crossbar 15 and permit the transverse bar 18 to be therebetween. The arms 52 and 53 engage the slot 29 of either embodiment of the trim plate 20 and the arms 55 and 56 can be engaged between the hooked edge 24 and the front crossbar 15 or on the top surface of the front crossbar 15. The intermediate portion 51 is slightly concavely shaped and extends beneath the one bar 18 that the third clip means 50 is symmetrical thereabout. When the third clip means 50 is in the securing position, the intermediate portion holds the arms 52, 53, 55 and 56 springably in engagement with the trim plate 20 and the front crossbar 15 respectively without engaging the transverse bar 18.

To disassembly the trim assembly having the third clip means 50, the user applies the same method as with the second clip means 40.

A fourth clip means 60, shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, is made from spring wire or resilient plastic material and comprises a flattened top portion 61 with diametrically opposite ends 62 and 63. A pair of downwardly and outwardly extending resilient arms 64 and 65 are integrally connected at the ends 62 and 63 respectively. The arms 64 and 65 are V-shaped each with an apex 68 pointing away from the respective end of the top portion. The arms are spaced apart so as to engage the underside of two adjacent transverse bars 18 is the securing position. The top portion 61 is inserted into the channel 28 of the trim plate 20 and the arms 64 and 65 are forced down on the transverse bars 18 so that the apex 68 will be beneath the transverse bars 18. The arms will be compressed inwardly so that they will springably engage the transverse bars 18 to hold the trim plate 20 in place.

To disassembly the trim assembly, the free ends 66 and 67 of the arms 64 and 65 respectively are preferably curved to provide a finger grip portion to permit the user to draw the arms 64 and 65 together then lift the trim plate 20 away from the transverse bars 18 until the apex 68 of the arms in above the bars 18. If no finger gripping portions are provided, then the user merely pulls the top wall 25 of the trim strip 20 away from the transverse bars 18 and the fourth clip means 60 will spring out.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that l have provided four novel embodiments of clip means for use in a trim assembly. It will be understood that modifications and variations to these embodiments may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a shelf structure, front and rear crossbars, spaced transverse bars secured to said crossbars; a trim plate having a hooked edge engaging said front crossbar, and a top wall overlying the adjacent transverse bars having a downwardly return bend at a distal end portion to provide a groove; and clip means comprising first and second tabs and a resilient intermediate portion extending between said tabs, said intermediate portion having top and bottom surfaces, the angle between the planes containing each said tab and the bottom surface extending from said tab being acute, said first tab engaging the front crossbar and said second bar being engaged in said groove whereby said trim plate is connected to said shelf structure, said first tab engaging the front crossbar between two adjacent transverse bars, said second tab being engaged in said groove between the same two adjacent transverse bars as the first tab, said resilient intermediate portion extending beneath said adjacent transverse bars and adapted to hold said tabs springably in place.

2. In a shelf structure, front and rear crossbars, spaced transverse bars secured to said crossbars; a trim plate having a hooked edge engaging said front crossbar, and a top wall overlying the adjacent transverse bars having a downwardly return bend at a distal end portion to provide a groove; and clip means comprising first and second tabs and a resilient intermediate portion extending between said tabs, said intermediate portion having top and bottom surfaces, the angle between the planes containing each said tab and the bottom surface extending from said tab being acute, said first tab engaging the front crossbar and said second bar being engaged in said groove whereby said trim plate is connected to said shelf structure, each said tab having two :arms and a center slot therebetween, said arms of the second tab engaged in said groove on each side of one of said transverse bars, said arms of the first end portion engaged with the: front crossbar on each side of the same transverse bar as said arms of the first end portion, said intermediate portion adapted to hold the end portions springably in place. 

1. In a shelf structure, front and rear crossbars, spaced transverse bars secured to said crossbars; a trim plate having a hooked edge engaging said front crossbar, and a top wall overlying the adjacent transverse bars having a downwardly return bend at a distal end portion to provide a groove; and clip means comprising first and second tabs and a resilient intermediate portion extending between said tabs, said intermediate portion having top and bottom surfaces, the angle between the planes containing each said tab and the bottom surface extending from said tab being acute, said first tab engaging the front crossbar and said second bar being engaged in said groove whereby said trim plate is connected to said shelf structure, said first tab engaging the front crossbar between two adjacent transverse bars, said second tab being engaged in said groove between the same two adjacent transverse bars as the first tab, said resilient intermediate portion extending beneath said adjacent transverse bars and adapted to hold said tabs springably in place.
 2. In a shelf structure, front and rear crossbars, spaced transverse bars secured to said crossbars; a trim plate having a hooked edge engaging said front crossbar, and a top wall overlying the adjacent transverse bars having a downwardly return bend at a distal end portion to provide a groove; and clip means comprising first and second tabs and a resilient intermediate portion extending between said tabs, said intermediate portion having top and bottom surfaces, the angle between the planes containing each said tab and the bottom surface extending from said tab being acute, said first tab engaging the front crossbar and said second bar being engaged in said groove whereby said trim plate is connected to said shelf structure, each said tab having two arms and a center slot therebetween, said arms of the second tab engaged in said groove on each side of one of said transverse bars, said arms of the first end portion engaged with the front crossbar on each side of the same transverse bar as said arms of the first end portion, said intermediate portion adapted to hold the end portions springably in place. 